Creating synergies with Cultural Heritage JPI Partnership and advanced
economies USA, Japan, together with Brazil, Russia, India, China, South
Africa and neighbouring Mediterranean countries: extending
cooperation at a global level
Annex 1 –Country Profiles
Brazil
Workshop attendee: Cristiano Borba do Nascimento, Fundação Joaquim Nabuco
Architect and Urbanist (Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil from 1999 to 2005 and University
of Oporto, Portugal during 2003/2004), PhD in Urban Development (Federal University of
Pernambuco, Brazil, from 2009 to 2013).
Analyst in Science & Technology at the Fundação Joaquim Nabuco (Joaquim Nabuco Foundation) in
Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, since 2008.
Studies in urban design and its relation with urban heritage and on the conservation of modern
architecture in the city of Recife, Brazil. In 2011 took part in the Urban Heritage Strategies course
of the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies of the Erasmus University of
Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Information provided by attendee:
The Fundação Joaquim Nabuco (Joaquim Nabuco Foundation) is a federal Brazilian organization
founded in 1949 by the sociologist Gilberto Freyre, originally as an institute focused in social
research. Now it is part of the Brazilian Ministry of Education and its actions must enclose the
North and Northeast regions of Brazil. In present, Fundação Joaquim Nabuco has qualified
researchers in diverse fields: Social History, Social Sciences, Economics and Environmental
Studies. Its researches cover the study of present conditions of peoples from different parts of
North and Northeast regions, environmental risks and climate changes in countryside areas,
poverty and general social and economic statistics.
Nevertheless, its targets are confluent to priority research areas pointed by JPI: Developing a
reflective society, Connecting people with heritage, Creating knowledge and Safeguarding cultural
heritage resource.
In past years, the institution also assumed the interest in recording the results of research
practice, what guided it to create a specific body on the documentation field. It not only fulfilled
recording actions, but also started to acquire a considerable amount of documentary collections of
periodicals, public and private collections of photographs, films, audio records and anthropological
and ethnographic objects. Today, it possess more than 500.000 visual documents related to
Brazilian history, the most complete library on the social sciences field, a rich collection of rare
books and documents (even ones from the Dutch and Portuguese colonial past) and manages the
Museu do Homem do Nordeste (Museum of the Northeastern Man), the most important
anthropological museum in all region.
Conservation, restoration and documentation of urban built heritage is a more recent field in which
Fundação Joaquim Nabuco is getting involved. Meanwhile, the institution nowadays has a qualified
body of architects working together with experienced technicians and professionals of conservation
field. Indeed, those activities are the ones developed by the Laboratory of Research, Conservation
and Restoration of Documents and Art Pieces, as described above.
Recently, it has also developed actions in public education and contemporary culture, promoting
courses and exhibitions in contemporary art and culture. Fundação Joaquim Nabuco also houses
the cinema facility dedicated to art movies with the bigger attendance of public in Brazil. All
services are accessible to all publics, since specialized researchers and academic people to
undergraduate and primary school students.
Other relevant federal institutions include the Historic and Artistic National Heritage Institute
(IPHAN), an organisation associated with the ministry of Culture. They are responsible for the
preservation, disclosure and inspection of Brazilian cultural assets, and ensuring these are
preserved for future generations. There are large regional and cultural differences, the federal
structure needs to address the regions separately and funding varies at municipal, state or federal
level. Heritage researcher is mainly led by the academic sector within universities and most
agencies do not undertake, promote or fund research. The private sector has more influence over
heritage policy and planning than the academic community.
Web links:



Historic and Artistic National Heritage Institute (IPHAN)
http://portal.iphan.gov.br/portal/montarPaginaInicial.do;jsessionid=02D3219AC3E25C54C
AA4E55700E5C038
Cultura Viva: Program of the Ministry of Culture. http://www.cultura.gov.br/culturaviva
Ministry of Culture: http://www2.cultura.gov.br/site/
China
Information gathered from: Professor Roberts Bickers, University of Bristol and Professor Dana
Arnold, UCL, and own research/web search.
Information provided:
Ministry of Culture in China is responsible for the cultural policy and associated activities in the
country such as the management of national museums and monuments, promotion and protection
of the arts and the management of national culture centres. It is split departmentally: Department
of General Planning; of Cultural and Creative Development; of Cultural Resources; of Audio-visual
and Music Industry; of Arts Development; of Humanities and Publications; of Cultural Exchange.
The Ministry’s six main areas of work include: Arts and Humanities; Creative Industries; Cultural
Heritages; Communities; Cultural Exchanges; and E-Culture.
The three core concepts guiding cultural heritage preservation at the Ministry are Conservation and
preservation, Operation and management, and Revitalisation and reuse. Under the area of cultural
heritage preservation, the Ministry have a number of responsibilities such as assisting local
governments and the private in promoting the maintenance and revitalisation of tangible cultural
assets and promoting the conservation of aboriginal cultural assets. Under the area of national
memories, the Ministry encourages the general public to tell their own stories and share their
memories. The Chinese Government adopted a law in 2002 called the implementation of the
‘Chinese Cultural Relics Protection Law.’
The Bureau of Cultural Heritage is the bureau of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of China
and is responsible for preserving and restoring historic buildings, communities, sites, cultural
landscapes and relics.
There are two Cultural Administration bodies in China: State Administration of Cultural Heritage
and Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. Both are national organisations, but they
are regionally administered so there is no collaboration. The State Administration of Cultural
Heritage is an administrative agency subordinate to the Ministry of Culture. It is responsible for the
management and development of museums and the protection of cultural relics of national
importance. The Agency is responsible for over 500,000 registered sites of ‘immovable cultural
relics’ in China. The Ministry of House and Urban-Rural Development is a ministry of the
government of China, which regulates the construction activities in the country
The Chinese World Cultural Heritage Foundation advocates the protection, preservation and
promotion of Chinas historical and cultural legacy. The Foundation is able to serve the
conservationists through research, education and training and the dissemination of information to
work towards the preservation of Chinese civilisations culture and values. The Foundation provides
funding, management and technology resources in support of targeted projects.
They continually wish to build resources to sustain cultural heritage projects, to commemorate
sites and to encourage young people to get involved. The Foundation wish to provide the public
with an opportunity to explore Chinese culture and heritage through websites and other cultural
digitalisation projects.
The Foundation definition of world cultural heritage is tangible- monuments, groups of building and
sites.
China joined UNESCO in 1985. The Foundations website contains a world heritage list for China
which is broken down into a series of categories: Cultural World Heritage sites, Natural World
Heritage sites, Mixed World Heritage sites and Intangible Cultural Heritage. There are 45 World
Heritage Sites, 122 State Listed Historical and Cultural Cities and 4,295 legally recognised cultural
relics.
Saving Antiquities for Everyone is a non-profit organisation with to mission to preserve and protect
cultural heritage worldwide. China is one of their focus countries, and in doing so SAFE raise
awareness of the need to protect China’s history and archaeology against looting etc.
Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Centre (CHP) is a private establishment with the ain to help
communities their cultural heritage. They seek to gain public participation in the protection and
development of cultural heritage.
The International Research Centre for Cultural Heritage Conservation at Tianjin University was
established in 2008. Whilst China has a rich heritage scene there is little in the areas of heritage
research and education.
The Department of Architecture has developed ‘drones’ that can survey heritage – this has
technology has been developed here for the preservation of the Great Wall.
Key issues: Issues of authenticity, integrity and technical issues are important– as is the value of
modern heritage and how to approach interdisciplinary research in China - they understand this
modern take and see heritage as the future.
China is interested in three main areas of cooperation between Europe and China; Cooperation in
national research and conservation programmes; Translation of the classic publications in
Conservation and Looking for an opportunity to persuade Chinese government to fund the
research and conservation of overseas Chinese heritages.
Web links:




Ministry of Culture: http://english.moc.gov.tw/
Chinese World Cultural Heritage Foundation: http://www.cwchf.com/
Saving Antiquities for Everyone (SAFE): http://www.savingantiquities.org/about/
Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Centre: http://www.bjchp.org/ (open in Google
Chrome, and translate into English)
Egypt
Information gathered from: Dr G Tassie and colleagues from ECHO.
Dr. G. J. Tassie is an Honorary Research Fellow and Associate Lecturer in Archaeology at the
University of Winchester focusing on the areas of Predynastic Egyptian archaeology and social
theory, particularly how the rise of state is reflected in the body. He has directed the Egypt
Exploration Society’s Kafr Hassan Dawood and Wadi Tumilat Survey and Excavation Project in the
East Delta, researching Fourth and Third Millennium BC sites and investigating the environmental
history of the region. In addition to writing over 60 publications, he has devoted his time over the
last 10 years to tackling issues of cultural heritage management. He is also engaged in numerous
field expeditions in Europe, the Levant, the Arabian Peninsula and Egypt.
Dr G Tassie is managing Director of the Egyptian Cultural Heritage Organisation (ECHO) and
Director of North Cornwall Heritage.
Information provided:
Cultural heritage in Egypt is largely based on tangible cultural heritage, although CultNat1 have an
innovative programme of recording folklore. More focus needs to be placed on intangible cultural
heritage, the recording and preservation of dance, music, clothing, food and other customs. People
need more platforms to express and celebrate their diverse intangible cultural heritage. There is a
big divide in the understanding of what heritage is and why heritage research is undertaken. Some
people are fully aware of all aspects of cultural heritage, whereas others have little to no
understanding at all. Therefore, importance should be placed on allowing all to be educated as to
the many aspects of what cultural heritage is in all its forms.
The major priorities for cultural heritage in Egypt are (as provided by ECHO):













Review of the how archaeology, history and CHM are taught in universities and schools
Creation of digital sites and monument records
Creation of digital magazine and museum registers
Creation of national cultural heritage archives
New technological advances
Greater security at sites
Community archaeology
Review of the legal system and more effective legislation
Aerial surveillance
Intangible cultural heritage
Public archaeology
Greater collaboration with people from around the world
Books and other information made available in Arabic
Relevant organisations in Egypt are:

Ministry of State for Antiquities/Supreme Council of Antiquities (Dr Mohammed Ibrahim,
Minister for Antiquities)

Centre for Conservation and Preservation of Islamic Architectural Heritage (Prof. Saleh
Lamei, Director)

National Centre for Documentation of Cultural and Natural Heritage (Dr Yasser el-Shayeb,
Director)

The Egyptian Antiquities Information Service (Mrs Azza Shawarby, Director)

International Council of Museums – Conservation Committee (Prof. Hany Hanna, Director)

Cultural Heritage Programme, French University in Egypt (Prof. Fekri Hassan, Director)

German Archaeological Institute, Caro Department (Prof. Stephen Seidlmayer, Director)

French Institute for Oriental Archaeology (Dr Beatrix Midant-Reynes, Director)

American Research Centre in Egypt (Dr Gerry Scott, Director)

Egypt Exploration Society (Dr Christopher Naunton, Director)
Web links:
1
http://www.cultnat.org/General/Cultnat.aspx; The Centre for Documentation of Cultural and Natural Heritage.










Ministry of State for Antiquities http://www.sca-egypt.org/eng/main.htm
Centre for Conservation and Preservation of Islamic Architectural Heritage
http://www.ciah.biz/
The Centre for Documentation of Cultural and Natural Heritage
http://www.bibalex.org/researchcenters/cultnat_en.aspx
The Egyptian Antiquities Information Service http://www.eais.org.eg/
International Council of Museums – Committee for Conservation http://www.icom-cc.org/
German Archaeological Institute, Caro Department
http://www.dainst.org/en/department/kairo?ft=all
French Institute for Oriental Archaeology http://www.ifao.egnet.net/
American Research Centre in Egypt http://www.arce.org/
Egypt Exploration Society http://www.ees.ac.uk/
Egyptian Cultural Heritage Organisation http://www.e-c-h-o.org/
India
Workshop Participant: Shikha Jain, Development and Research Organisation for Nature, Arts
and Heritage (DRONAH) and Indian Heritage Cities Network Foundation
Shikha Jain is Director, DRONAH (Development and Research Organisation for Nature, Arts and
Heritage, and Chief Editor of the biannual refereed journal ‘Context. Her experience in cultural
heritage ranges from steering conservation projects for various state governments to preparing
conservation plans funded by international organizations such as the Getty Foundation, USA;
World Monuments Fund and, preparation of Nomination Dossier and Management Plans for World
Heritage Sites in India. She is also working on Urban Heritage ADB funded projects for the State
Governments of Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh. As a consultant to UNESCO, New Delhi she
worked on the Cultural Heritage Toolkit for the JnNURM (Jawahar Lal Urban Renewal Mission),
Ministry of Urban Development.
She has contributed a number of papers and articles on the built heritage of India in national and
international journals and conferences. She has authored and edited books such as Havelis: A
Living Tradition of Rajasthan (Shubhi Publications, 2004), Princely Terrain: Amber, Jaipur and
Shekhawati (Shubhi Publications, 2004), Stone Crafts of Rajasthan (CDOS, Government of
Rajasthan, 2010) and Haryana: Cultural Heritage supported by INTACH and Archaeological Survey
of India (Aryan Publications, 2012).
She is Visiting Faculty for Urban Conservation in the Department of Urban Planning, School of
Planning and Architecture, New Delhi and a member of the Academic Council, School of Planning
and Architecture, Bhopal and Aayojan College of Architecture, Jaipur. She is a panel member of
PRASADA, Society of South Asian Studies, UK. She was the State Convener of Indian National
Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, (INTACH) Haryana Chapter from 2009-2011 and State Project
Coordinator for National Mission of Monuments and Antiquities, Haryana in 2010-11. Currently,
she is also a Founding Trustee of the Indian Heritage Cities Network Foundation, a UNESCO
recognised NGO and, a senior consultant to the Ministry of Culture, India serving as Member
Secretary, Advisory Committee on World Heritage Matters.
Information provided by participant:
India is a vast country with great diversity in cultural heritage thus presenting an immense
challenge for documentation and research in this field. While India shares most of the identified
themes in SRA for tangible, intangible and digital heritage and the threat to artefacts and built
heritage; it has to be recognised that like most Asian cultures, the tangible and intangible heritage
are inextricably linked together in India and recognised in its living heritage that shows continuity
of customs, rituals, settings and spaces in most traditional settlements since centuries.
For India’s historic cities and settlements to retain their prime principles of sustainability, the
Government of India has introduced a positive, heritage resource-based approach to urban
development and urban governance. A national policy in support of conservation and rehabilitation
of urban heritage is in process and several levels of urban heritage legislation for protection of
historic cities are already in place in various states of the country. The National Conservation
Policy for the India (draft policy) strengthens the role of craftspeople who are a living repository of
building cultural tradition which has been sustained through generations and, thus, their role in
conserving the historic cores is paramount. National Urban schemes such as JNNURM in last five
years have included a special focus to prepare Toolkits for City Development Plans, Heritage
Management Plans and Cultural Heritage Project Reports to guide cities toward a heritage resource
based development.
New development programmes and projects in the historic environments are being analysed with
view to their impact on the heritage resources. New legislations of the Ministry of Culture (AMASR
2010 by the Archaeological Survey of India) and Ministry of Urban Development (Model Heritage
Byelaws and Town and Country Planning) aim to introduce ways of sensitive planning, while using
tools such as ‘Cultural Impact Assessment’ to assure that infrastructure projects do not harm the
historic environment. Ministry of Culture has also initiated the National Mission of Monuments and
Antiquities and National Mission on Manuscripts in the last 5 years to have a comprehensive
database of tangible heritage resources. Intangible heritage is very much present in every nuance
of Indian society and continues to sustain even though formal documentation of the intangible is
limited only to a few national bodies and NGO’s in India. Digital Heritage is a less explored arena in
the Indian context though it is now slowly gaining momentum.
All four priority research areas identified in JPICH Strategic Research Agenda are very relevant in
the Indian context though applications and methods used may vary or may be adapted to suit the
Indian context. In fact, there may be variations within India as each state in India has a different,
culture, language, customs and traditions so a deeper understanding of each specifically to
‘connect people with heritage’ is extremely crucial. DRONAH and the Indian Heritage Cities
Network Foundation are engaged along with various individual experts, government organisations
and NGO’s in this field to document, exchange, learn and protect cultural resources in various
sections of the country.
Web links:






Archaeological Survey of India http://asi.nic.in/asi_aboutus.asp
National Conversation Policy
http://asi.nic.in/pdf_data/draft_national_conservation_policy_monuments.pdf
JNNURM http://jnnurm.nic.in/
Ministry of Urban Development http://moud.gov.in/
Ministry of Culture http://www.indiaculture.nic.in/
Indian Heritage Cities Network http://www.ihcn.in/
Israel
Workshop attendee: Tamar Raviv, Supervisor of National Heritage Sites
Information provided by attendee:
Policies and laws relating to heritage are governed by different ministries or government
departments, each with their own individual budget and conditions. The Department of
Environment Protection is responsible for policies and laws relating to Nature Reserves and
Heritage sites. Their work is largely carried out by Nature Parks Authority. The Department of
Education is responsible for policy and laws relating to Antiquities. Their work is carried out with
the Israel Antiquities Authority. The Department of the Interior is responsible for laws governing
planning and building, including historic buildings and the Department of Culture is responsible for
overseeing museums.
The priority areas identified in the JPICH Strategic Research Agenda are areas of interest to Israel
and which Israel is already working on. The main two key areas are ‘Safeguarding the Cultural
Heritage Resource’ and ‘Connecting People with Heritage’.
Web links:



Ministry of Environmental Protection
http://www.gov.il/FirstGov/TopNavEng/Engoffices/EngMinistries/Engsviva/
Ministry of Education http://www.education.gov.il/moe/english/ind.htm
Ministry of Culture and Sport http://mcs.gov.il/English/Pages/About-the-Ministry-ofCulture-and-Sport.aspx
Japan
Information gathered from: Professor Nobuko Inaba, University of Tsukuba, Japan and own
research/web search.
Information on workshop participant:
1987-1991 National Museum of China, Beijing. Research in Conservation Science.
1991-1998 Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland. Doctor Degree in Conservation.
1999School of Archaeology and Museology, Peking University, faculty.
Research Field: conservation of stone, porcelain, wood and lacquer heritages.
Information provided by participant:
There is a long history in Japan in developing cultural heritage from the mid nineteenth century.
Initially it covered the tangible and then after World War Two, it was concerned with intangible
heritage including cultural landscapes. Policies and laws are the responsibility at national,
regional, municipal and local levels.
Information from web search:
The Agency for Cultural Affairs is a body of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology. There are two divisions at the Agency: Cultural Affairs Division and
Cultural Properties Protection Division. The forma is concerned with areas of art and culture
promotion and arts copyright. The latter aims at protecting the nation’s heritage. The Cultural
Affairs Division supports a number of arts festival, events in music, dance, theatre and art.
The Cultural Properties Protected Division has designated over 1000 buildings, paintings and other
art forms as ‘national treasures.’ The Division also has a lesser designation of ‘Important Cultural
Properties’ which account for dominantly buildings and sculpture. In 1975 the Cultural Properties
Protection Act enabled the Agency to designate areas and buildings in urban centres for
preservation. The Cultural Properties Protection Division has a focus on intangible cultural assets
such as the performing arts, and traditional arts and crafts, which they seek to preserve.
Recognition of Intangible Cultural Properties rests on three levels: individual, collective and group
recognition
Japan has a designation system and a registration system; the former selects important items and
designates them as Cultural Properties which thereby means that greater restrictions to their
alteration, repair export. The latter has a lower level of protection. Designation of tangible cultural
properties takes place at a city, prefectural and national level. The Designated Tangible Properties
can be further designated as either Important Cultural Properties of Japan or National Treasures in
the case of especially valuable items.
The Japanese Government recognises regions and areas which are indispensable in understanding
the lifestyle of Japanese people, naming them as Cultural Landscapes. Those of high value can be
recognised as Important Cultural Landscapes. Local governments have responsibility over the
areas but can apply to the Agency for Cultural Affairs for financial assistance, surveys and
research.
In support of Selection Conversation Techniques the Japanese Government provides funding for
documentation, training and development.
The Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the ‘Preservation of the World Cultural Heritage’ finances projects
aimed at restoring and preserving monuments, archaeological remains and sites of historic and/or
artistic value: half of the funds go to sites on the World Heritage List. There are currently 17 world
heritage sites in Japan. The Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the ‘Preservation and Promotion of the
Intangible Cultural Heritage’ finances promotion and preservation projects such as workshops,
public-facing showcases, seminars and audio-visual documents. Intangible heritage has been
recognised by the Japanese government since 1950. The funding focuses on activities which
involve knowledge transfer and transmission between generations.
Web links:



Agency of Cultural Affairs http://www.bunka.go.jp/english/
Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
http://www.mext.go.jp/english/
Japanese Funds-in-Trusts http://www.unesco.emb-japan.go.jp/htm/jpfundsintrust.htm
Moldova
Workshop attendee: Eugeniu Mistreanu, National Archaeological Agency of Republic of Moldova
Eugeniu Mistreanu, is the archaeologist chief of documentation and records of archaeological
heritage sector at National Archaeological Agency and scientific researcher in prehistoric
archaeology sector at National History Museum of Moldova. As an Archaeologist chief he is
responsible for managing the National Register Archaeology, National Archaeological Repertory,
folders of archaeological sites, Archaeological Cadastre and electronic database of immovable
archaeological heritage. As a researcher he is interested in late Eneolithic and early and middle
phase of the Bronze Age, Prut-Dniester area. Eugeniu has a master Degree in the Humanities,
specialization Archeology and Ancient History, from Moldova State University, faculty of History
and Philosophy. He also has a diploma in digital and spatial archaeology and magnetic methods in
archeology from Center for Professional Training in Culture, Ministry of Culture and National
Heritage from Romania. Working in this field he understood that only a new model of cultural
heritage management can put in value the national heritage of the Republic of Moldova. He can
be contacted at eugenmistreanu@gmail.com.
Information provided by attendee:
The National Strategy on Culture of the Republic of Moldova is under development. The Strategy
contains all the priorities outlined in the SRA. The national strategy concluded it is of great
importance to change the point of view regarding the cultural sector as a whole on the national
level and regarding cultural heritage in particular. It is necessary to join the national legislation
provisions, methods and approaches with the similar ones which are used in Europe today.
One of the main ways to accomplish this aim is to connect society as a whole, not only people
involved in cultural activities, with the cultural heritage protection philosophy, share good
practices, explain that cultural heritage is the important resource of democracy and the important
tool of sustainable development of the country.
The main tools to be used to change the current situation in Moldova and to solve accumulated
problems in the field of cultural heritage protection are:
- To establish a new legislative system (which will be based on five laws (on the protection of
archaeological heritage (already adopted), on the protection of architectural monuments, on the
protection of movable heritage (already adopted), on the protection of intangible heritage (already
adopted), on the monumental memorial sculpture) and several regulations related to;
- To establish a new institutional system (to create state services, for example the creation of the
National Archaeology agency), research institutions and educational programs to prepare
specialists (architects, engineers, workers specialized in different types of restoration works);
- To create necessary legal conditions to support creation of the built companies specialized in
restoration works.
The proposed research will support the dissemination of knowledge and of good European
practices in the field and will show how to renovate and develop historic quarters of the city
without extensive demolitions and preserving their historic and heritage characteristics.
Web links:




Culture of the Republic of Moldova http://www.moldova.md/en/cultura/
Government of Moldova, Ministry of Culture http://www.mc.gov.md/
Cultural Heritage Protection Policies in Moldova http://rcchd.icomos.org.ge/?l=E&m=44&JID=2&AID=15
Russia
Information gathered from: own research/web search and information gathered from contacts
Information provided:
The Ministry of Culture designs and implements a number of regulations in line with the
Constitution of the Russian Federation. It is a federal executive body responsible for drafting
national policy and the legal regulation of arts, culture, historical and cultural heritage, archiving,
copyright and cinematography. Ultimately the Ministry of Culture seeks to conserve, promote and
protect cultural heritage.
The Ministry of Culture is structured departmentally, and each department is further split down
into a series of smaller focused departments. The top level departments are: Department of State
Support Arts and Folk Art, Department of Cinematography, Department of Cultural Heritage,
Department of Control, Supervision and Licensing in Cultural Heritage, Department of Tourism and
Regional Policy, and there are other departments for finance, administration, and international.
The regulation activities of the Ministry relevant to the organisation of cultural heritage include:
maintenance of the list of the displaced cultural valuables that cannot be transferred to foreign
countries, order the protection and perseveration of valuable cultural heritage objects, regulate a
number of funds including the Museum Fund and the State Catalogue Museum Fund, and hold the
permitting procedures for the right to work on recognised archaeological heritage sites.
The Ministry has a number of responsibilities overseeing the work of education bodies in regard to
public policy, post-graduate studies and the development of educational arts programs in the arts.
In regard to state regulation, the Ministry maintains oversight of the collective management of
copyright, the list of library and information organisations and maintains a unified state register of
cultural heritage. The Ministry also identifies objects of mandatory conservation of cultural heritage
deemed as federal importance.
The Ministry has a number of areas where the body ‘provides’ services, guidance and support on
behalf of the people of the Russian Federation; this includes the provision of scientific and
methodological support for the conservation and use of cultural heritage, exportation and
importation of cultural property and the provision of certificates for distribution and export, the
definition of the boundaries of historical and cultural reserves of federal importance. The Ministry
also supports small and medium enterprises through the development and implementation of
measures. The Ministry has to formally agree a number of activities such as the appointment of
heads and structure of executive bodies of subjects of the Russian Federation, the project zones of
the protection of cultural heritage deemed as federal importance.
The Coordinating Council for Culture at the Ministry of Culture acts as an advisory body for culture,
arts, historical, cultural heritage and cinematography. The Council undertakes a number of
coordinating activities on behalf of the Russian Federation such as public policy in culture and the
development and implementation of cultural projects and programmes across Russia; these
include regional programmes and targeted programmes. The Council oversees the process of
conservation and ensures that there is an efficient and effective use of cultural, heritage and
library funds. The Council also position themselves within the discussion of the problems of cultural
development in Russia.
The Federal Archival Agency rests under the responsibility of the Ministry of Culture and acts as a
Federal executive authority by performing the functions of public service in the field of archives
through storage and accounting of archival documents, and leads on the Archival Fund.
The Federal Agency for Tourism rests under the responsibility of the Ministry of Culture and
performs a number of activities as a federal executive authority: maintains the register of tour
operators, promotes Russia to domestic and World tourism markets, and undertakes economic
analysis of the enterprises within Russia.
The Ministry of Cultures oversees the functions of a number of territorial bodies in thirteen districts
which manage culture for that region. The Cultural Management bodies have a number of
responsibilities which are an extension of Russian Federation. Responsibilities of the territorial
bodies include: preservation, use, promotion and public protection of cultural heritage,
management of the importation and exportation of cultural property, to ensure compliance with
the conditions associated with the conservation of cultural heritage, to oversee storage of cultural
heritage, to ensure district compliance with the law on archives. These bodies also hold the power
to terminate any actions which can damage or destruct an object of cultural heritage, to ensure
the owners of cultural heritage comply with security obligations, to oversee planning regulations in
historic sites. Generally all the territorial bodies have similar responsibilities, less frequent
functions undertaken by the bodies include: ‘compliance with the legislation of the Russian
Federation in relation to cultural objects displaced in the USSR during the Second World War and
in the territory of the Russian Federation, the preservation of displaced cultural values and their
account’ and ‘conducting historical, cultural and art historical expertise collectible, including seized
and confiscated weapons, ammunition, copies (replicas) of weapons.’
The Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR) funds initiative-based research project in all
fields of fundamental science, and humanities is an area supported by the RFBR. The RFBR has a
fundamental research funding programme, a targeted fundamental research funding programme,
regional competitions, a young scientist’s programme, international competitions and joint
competitions with CIS countries. The regional competition supports the ‘problems of studying,
preserving, and developing national culture and artifacts of cultural heritage.’
The Russian Humanitarian Foundation funds the humanities, the ‘spread of human knowledge in a
society’ and ‘the revival of traditions of national humanities.’ It is state funded and funds all major
areas of humanities including archaeology, ethnography and political science resulting in research
projects such as experimental laboratory research and restoration work projects.
Russia became a UNESCO member in 1954, of which the UNESCO Programs for the Preservation of
the World Cultural and Natural Heritage provide Russia with advice, guidance and regulatory
frameworks in the sphere of restoration of ancient monuments and items of Russian Heritage that
has been accumulated over time. As a multinational country the UNESCO Program provides a
means of preserving the cultural diversity of Russian.
Web links:









Compendium: Cultural Policies and Trends in Europe; Country Profile; Russian Federation;
2013: http://www.culturalpolicies.net/down/russia_022013.pdf
Ministry of Culture (Coordinating Council for Culture)http://government.ru/en/department/27/
-The Federal Archival Agency- http://archives.ru/
-The Federal Agency for Tourism http://www.russiatourism.ru/
The UNESCO site www.unesco.ru provides a useful overview of Cultural Heritage in Russia.
Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Research Funding)
(http://www.rfbr.ru/rffi/ru/info).
Russian Humanitarian Foundation
Scientific projects listed under the Ministry of Culture
http://www.mkrf.ru/deyatelnost/scientific-work/index2013.php
Bilateral research cooperation between Russia and Norway on the Research Council of
Norway website. http://www.forskningsradet.no/en/Russia/1253956512669
South Africa
Workshop attendee: Laura Robinson, Cape Town Heritage Trust and Karel A Bakker, University
of Pretoria, South Africa
Prof Karel Bakker (PhD) is currently the head of department for the Department of Architecture at
the University of Pretoria. He is involved in the pedagogy of heritage in many formats,
undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He has performed heritage training for UNESCO and
ICCROM internationally. He has been very involved in the work leading to the acceptance of the
UNESCO Recommendation on Historic Urban Landscape, and has also participated in its promotion
and application in Africa, as well as its discourse internationally. His research focuses on Cultural
landscapes, urban regeneration, intangible heritage, historic settlement, ‘shared-built-heritage’ as
well as interpretation and presentation of sites. He has published widely and performed at many
international academic events. He is a director of Cultmatrix cc as heritage management specialist.
He is a member if ICOMOS, ICOM as well as APHP. He has worked on management of premier
sites like the Union Buildings and Robben Island Museum. He is an expert member of the National
Heritage Committee of the South African Institute of Architects, a member of the International
Committee on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) of the Association of Professional Heritage
Practitioners, has performed missions for UNESCO WHC on many World Heritage Sites and has
participated in writing or reviewing Nomination Dossiers. He is on the editorial board of the Journal
on Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development, the Australia ICOMOS Historic
Environments as well as the South African Journal for Art History
Laura Robinson is the CEO at Cape Town Heritage Trust. Laura maintains affiliation with the Cape
Institute for Architecture, ICOMOS International, and Docomomo International. She is an architect
and heritage specialist, and holds expertise in heritage conservation and cultural landscape.
Information provided by attendee:
Heritage legislation lies within the Department of Arts and Culture. The South African Heritage
Resource Agency (SAHRA) is the national administrative body responsible for the protection of
South Africa’s cultural heritage. The agency was established through the National Heritage
Resources Act 1999 and they operate a three tier system, national, provincial and locally. Other
relevant organisations are: South African National Parks; South African National Heritage Council;
National Research Foundation; African Renaissance Initiative and National Archives of South Africa.
Professor Karel Bakker shares his thoughts on the JPICH Strategic Research Agenda:
Developing a reflective society The SRA is supported. Research in South African tertiary
institutions reflect a post-modern approach and deal with aspects like geocriticism,
power/knowledge, critical theory, gender theory, post-colonial discourse, social constructionism, to
name a few. Cultural research is reflective of past inequalities, hegemonies and power
differentials, and is geared towards search for the local in the universal, the social production of
culture and the understanding of what the nature of society should be or should become to ensure
cultural and environmental sustainability, how cultural capital may be a sustainable resource that
deserves conservation and protection as well as the protection of indigenous knowledge systems
(IKS). The National Research Foundation supports broad categories of research that ties in with
National priorities that include these broad SRA areas. Likewise the Department of Arts & Culture
and the SA Heritage Resources Act subscribe to these aims, but research on heritage conservation
of the built environment is less well supported than intangible heritage.
Connecting people with heritage The SRA is supported. The SA Heritage Resource Act is a
bottoms-up instrument that empowers communities/societies to identify and protect heritage. The
new South African Heritage Information System is a completely transparent allows any individual
of stakeholder or affected party to track all processes and decisions in the heritage management
process. Lacking is resourcing of management plans to support and sustain heritage conservation,
training and empowerment in heritage management and conservation overall. Only large national
projects really receive sustained resourcing.
Creating knowledge The SRA is only partly supported. Historically (pre 1994) cultural heritage
was dominated by the state and conservation was the preserve of an elite, which were
ideologically biased to only a minority sector of society. In the democratic South Africa there are
many academics and some practitioners that have gained a complex understanding of the
landscape of cultural heritage and its conservation, but this understanding does not have a broad
societal base. Although (culture) environmental management is entrenched, public participation in
its processes is limited and NIMBY based. There is a need to support communities in identifying
and interpreting cultural significance as it exists in the environment, and to be activists in the
management and protection of cultural heritage. Heritage management and conservation in
regional and urban government level is very underdeveloped. The UNESCO Historic Urban
Landscape (HUL) approach has been indicated at a recent ICOMOS colloquium to be a very useful
approach in Africa where there is little or no integration in various developmental, planning and
conservation actions. There is great need for regional centres of excellence or institutes where
various role players in cultural heritage management can co-operate in ensuring the delivery of
education in integrated cultural heritage management. There is a tremendous need for building
capacity in the total cultural heritage management field
Safeguarding our cultural heritage resource The SRA is only partly supported: In South
Africa there is an excellent Constitution, good environmental legislation (National Environmental
Management Act) that includes for the cultural environment, as well as very progressive heritage
legislation (South African Heritage Resources Act). Yet, the countries cultural heritage is at risk.
Research is needed to identify hitherto suppressed or obscured heritage and to have a working
system of listing, assessment and definition of cultural significance; to allow for early identification
of culturally significant heritage in planning and development strategies and frameworks; to
ensure integrative heritage management and protection; to ensure the integration of tangible and
intangible heritage in planning and planning control; to understand the role of culture, and then
heritage conservation, in the broader sustainability approach; to ensure that cultural systems are
resilient to pressures of intense change brought about by development and environmental
stresses; to ensure the integration of heritage in building cultural landscapes that have diversity,
identity, resilience and environmental quality to ensure cultural growth and responsiveness.
Web links:





The Department of Arts and Culture https://www.dac.gov.za/
South African Heritage Resources Agency http://www.sahra.org.za/
The National Heritage Council http://www.heritageportal.co.za/organisation/nationalheritage-council-nhc
Department of Environmental Affairs https://www.environment.gov.za/
National Research Foundation http://www.nrf.ac.za/
USA
Workshop attendee: John Jameson, US National Park Service, ICOMOS ICIP and Donovan
Rypkema, Heritage Strategies International
John H. Jameson is senior archaeologist and Education, Outreach, and Public Interpretation
Program lead for the Southeast Archaeological Centre, U.S. National Park Service. His extensive
career has encompassed a broad range of projects in cultural heritage preservation and
management in several regions of the United States and overseas. At NPS, John has led important
initiatives in public interpretation, including the creation of the Archaeology Interpretation
Interdisciplinary Training Module and facilitating Service-wide workshops. He has received the
coveted Sequoia Award for significant contributions to interpretation, education, and partnerships
in the National Park Service. As a Curriculum Coordinator and Interpretive Development Program
(IDP) Certifier, he evaluates professional interpretation and education programs in the NPS.
Internationally, John serves as founding member and Vice President, International Committee on
Interpretation and Presentation (ICIP), ICOMOS. Within Ireland and the UK, he is active in local
issues and community engagement. In 2012, he was invited to participate in a Heritage Council /
ICOMOS Ireland conference entitled, “Your Place or Mine? New initiatives engaging communities in
interpreting & presenting heritage” in Dublin. He has organized an ICOMOS-endorsed international
seminar, slated for July 2013, entitled “Interpreting Megalithic Sites and Monuments,” to be hosted
by English Heritage in Salisbury.
John has edited and contributed to a number of seminal works on cultural heritage management
and interpretation, including; Presenting Archaeology to the Public: Digging for Truths (1997);
Ancient Muses: Archaeology and the Arts (2003); The Reconstructed Past (2004); Unlocking the
Past: Celebrating Historical Archaeology in North America (2005); Past Meets Present:
Archaeologists Partnering with Museum Curators, Teachers and Community Groups (2007);); Out
of the Blue: Public Interpretation of Maritime Cultural Resources (2007); The Heritage Reader
(2008) [a compendium of articles on past and present international trends in cultural heritage
management]; and most recently Training and Practice for Modern Day Archaeologists (2013).
Donovan Rypkema is president of Heritage Strategies International, a firm which works at the
nexus of heritage conservation and economics to provide catalytic information to public and NGO
clients. Rypkema has worked with communities in 49 U.S. States and more than 40 countries.
International clients have included the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the
Council of Europe, the United Nations Development Program, Europa Nostra, the European Heads
of Heritage Forum and others. Rypkema was the lead witness at a hearing of the European
Parliament regarding heritage conservation and the economic crisis.
He is the author of numerous articles and publications including Community Initiated
Development, Feasibility Analysis of Historic Buildings, Heritage Conservation in America: An
Introduction, Public-Private Partnerships and Heritage: A Practitioner's Guide and a book The
Economics of Historic Preservation: A Community Leader’s Guide that has been translated into
Russian and Korean. Rypkema holds a Master of Science degree in Historic Preservation from
Columbia University. He is a member of the Team of Specialists in Public Private Partnerships for
the UN Economic Commission for Europe, on the Board of Directors of Global Urban Development,
the Senior Advisory Board of the Global Heritage Fund and serves on the ICOMOS International
Scientific Committee on the Economics of Conservation. Rypkema teaches a graduate course on
the economics of historic preservation at the University of Pennsylvania where he received the
2008 G. Holmes Perkins Award for Distinguished Teaching. In 2012 Rypkema received the Louise
du Pont Crowninshield Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Crowninshield
award is the highest preservation award in the US and is given for lifetime contribution to the field
of historic preservation.
Information provided by attendee:
Heritage protection is operated at a federal structure. There is a role at national level for setting
standards, regulations, significant criteria which many states choose to follow but there is also
some local variation. There is no specific national funding programme for heritage research
although there are some important national organisations such as National Parks Service and
NGOs such as the Smithsonian Institution, Getty Conservation Institute, US National Trust for
Historic Preservation. There are a range of state level NGOs as well and many local bodies and
voluntary organisations.
Thoughts on the JPICH Strategic Research Agenda:
Developing a reflective society
If there is any work being done in this area it would probably be in a rather esoteric, theoretical
framework. Not being a full time academic I don’t really know who or if any work in this regard is
being done.
Connecting people with heritage.
In the US this area is largely the realm of the NGO sector on the national, state and local level. To
the best of my knowledge this effort is experience and peer-recommendation based rather than
through any substantive research. There is a requirement that every State Historic Preservation
Office prepares a Historic Preservation Plan every five years, but this is done largely internally
albeit with opportunities for public input. Quality and substance of these plans seem to vary widely
from state to state.
Creating knowledge.
Because there is very little on-going research funding in the US, this area, such that it exists at all,
is primarily through graduate students’ dissertation work. Quality, of course, varies widely and
rarely is there much circulation of the research after completion. There is a research unit – the
National Centre for Preservation Technology and Training, a part of the National Park Service, the
national governments lead agency for heritage conservation issues. The areas of interest of the
NCPTT are: Archaeology & Collections, Architecture & Engineering, Call to Action, Cemetery
Conservation, Disasters, Historic Landscapes, Materials Conservation and Sustainability. They have
a small grants programme to support original research, and provide some direct training and
technical assistance.
The Getty Conservation Institute based in Los Angeles does some research as well, but it is much
more international than US focussed.
Safeguarding our cultural heritage resource.
The protection of cultural heritage in the United States is weak, and in many places getting
weaker. In an attempt to justify and support stronger protections (or forestall weakening existing
ones) research in the US has concentrated on demonstrating the economic and environmental
benefits of heritage protection, rather than the underlying values of the heritage assets
themselves. There may be efforts at the Library of Congress and elsewhere to devise systems for
the protection of digital heritage but I am unaware of and not involved with any of those areas.
Web links:








Heritage Strategies International http://www.hs-intl.com/about-us
International Council on Monuments and Sites http://icip.icomos.org/ENG/agenda.html
National Park Service http://www.nps.gov/index.htm
National Trust for Heritage Preservation http://www.preservationnation.org/
Smithsonian http://www.si.edu/
Getty Conservation Institute http://www.si.edu/
Library of Congress http://www.loc.gov/
State Historic Preservation Office http://www.ncshpo.org/